MLB London stadium 2023: Cost, capacity & more to know about Cubs vs. Cardinals venue

As the NFL establishes a firmer and firmer foothold in London with its International Series, MLB is trying to get in on the action. 

After staging regular-season games in Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Australia the last few decades, baseball is trying to grow the game in England. That initiative picks up this weekend, as the Cubs and Cardinals play the third and fourth games in London since the turn of the century. MLB's first UK series in 2019 saw the Red Sox and Yankees in an absolute slugfest that saw 50 total runs over two games.

United Kingdom fans may look for some more pitching in this go-round. The Cardinals and Cubs, of course, bring deep roots and baseball history to the fold as a matchup. Despite struggles from both teams this season, they're hoping to bring an entertaining series to London Stadium, home of West Ham United. The Cardinals took their series earlier this season, with the Cubs avoiding a sweep in the last game.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and London Mayor Sadiq Khan have a partnership in place that is meant to keep an alliance between MLB and London alive. The planned 2020 series between the Cardinals and Cubs was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but 2024 and 2026 series are on the docket after this year's edition. 

FAGAN: Surging Cubs, Cardinals hoping to use London Series as springboard

As with any baseball matchup, the ballpark is a character of its own. London Stadium surrendered 10 home runs when the Yankees and Red Sox came around last time. We may see things play out differently this year, with the walls being pushed back to accommodate seating. Per ESPN, MLB says the lengthened walls are not because of the outrageous scoring totals four years ago.

Here is what to know about London Stadium as the Cubs and Cardinals come to town.

Where is London Stadium?

Home of West Ham United F.C., London Stadium is located in Northeast London in the Stratford District. It has also been called Olympic Stadium and Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Park.

London Stadium seating capacity

London Stadium has a seated capacity of 66,000, with a normal capacity of 62,500.

When the Yankees and Red Sox played in 2019, Saturday drew a crowd of 59,659 and Sunday drew a crowd of 59,059.

London Stadium dimensions for baseball

One of the unique challenges baseball faces is finding a stadium with the proper dimensions to host a game. London Stadium did fit the description, but it will look a bit different this year.

Following the home run-fest that was Red Sox vs. Yankees, MLB may get to showcase its pitching a bit more, with the wall being pushed back. London Stadium had uniform dimensions in 2019, going 330 down the lines and 385 to center. That led to 10 home runs being hit over the course of two games, and 50 runs being scored.

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This year, the center field wall has been pushed back to 392 feet, seven feet deeper than 2019. According to MLB, this has nothing to do with the inordinately high scoring totals but rather seat restructuring in London. The alleys, meanwhile, are moving from 382 to 387 feet. The lines will stay at 330 feet, but there will be less foul ground as the fans get closer to the action.

That may not do a lot to curb the offense, but we'll see how the Cubs and Cardinals adjust.

How much did London Stadium cost to build?

Commissioned for the 2012 Summer Olympics, London Stadium began construction on May 22, 2008.

It cost £486 million -- or $962 million by the 2008 exchange rate of 1.98 dollars per pound -- to build.

MLB International Games 2023

This will be the second of two international series to be played this season, with Mexico City hosting the Padres and Giants earlier in the year.

That series saw a ridiculous 11 home runs in its first game, ostensibly helped in part by Estadio Helu being 7,349 feet above sea level -- 2,149 feet higher than Coors Field.